Aric Almirola achieved his first victory since retiring from the cup series on Saturday. Almirola celebrated his win with his children (Via IMAGO and Screenshot: @NASCAR/X).
Joe Gibbs Racing has been dominating the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series recently. They have been extremely successful in the top two series, winning three out of the last four races. Aric Almirola added to their list of victories this past Saturday. The experienced racer put on an impressive performance in his No:20 Toyota.
Almirola emerged as the winner of the race, surpassing his teammate and JRM’s in a chaotic overtime re-start. The race concluded under caution due to a multi-car pileup caused by , and wrecking on the final lap. This marked Almirola’s fifth victory at the iconic track.
The win meant the world to Almirola, who celebrated with his family. He shared a heartwarming moment with his children, who joined him on the track to celebrate. They also joined him for the podium celebrations. This win was particularly special for Almirola, as it was his first since retiring from full-time racing at the end of the 2023 season.
Almirola announced his retirement from the No:10 SHR team last year in order to prioritize spending time with his family. However, he was given the opportunity to end his career where it all began by . He gladly accepted the chance and is now more than just a part-time racer at JGR. He also serves as a mentor for all the Toyota racers in the JGR development program. This victory will enhance his credibility among the younger racers.
Technically, Almirola secured his first Xfinity win in 2007 at Martinsville. However, he considered it a tainted victory since it was who actually finished the race for JGR. Almirola only started the race because Hamlin, who had Cup duties, encountered travel issues and arrived late to the event.
When Hamlin eventually made it to the track, JGR decided to pit and swap drivers. Despite this confusion, Almirola was ultimately credited with the win since he started the race. It was a messy moment for both the team and the former SHR driver. Finally achieving a proper win allows Almirola to let go of that burden.
This victory will give JGR added momentum heading into the upcoming race weeks as they chase their first championship since Ty Gibbs in 2022. It also validates Almirola’s decision to conclude his Cup career and explore opportunities in the second tier.